Rotary internal combustion engine



Aug. 21, 1934.

R. LACHAPELLE ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 26 1929 I In van for: izfllazfia aelle WHO/72,6]

Aug. 21, 1934.

R. LACHAPELLE ROTARYJNTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Sept. 26, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2- [acfiapelle WWW f f em Patented Aug. 21, 1934 UNITEDSTATES mme eme- 1,910,559 I I ROTARY INTERNALCOMBUSTldN ENGINE I RenLachapelle, P oint e-Aux Trembles,

" Quebec, Canada s Application September 26, .1929,'Serial No.- 395318 1Claim. (01.123 14) 1 The present inventionpertains to a novel engine ofthe rotary type, and the principal object is to provide a device of thischaracter in which the force applied to the rotor shall be substantially continuous rather than in the-nature of plied or subdivided, anda series of secondary impacts is set up without the use of separatefirin means for each such secondary impact. s 1 The invention includes acylindrical stator in; which the rotor is suitably mounted. An annularspaceis formed between the stator and rotor, and suitable devices arecarried by the stator for dividing this space into'co'mpartments anddevice carried by said rotor for dividing said compartments intochambers. These chambers have in-;

take and exhaust valves and firing means which operate successively inproper sequence after the first ignition. On operation of the firingmeans, the major impacts are successively produced. These correspond tothe successive impacts in any type of internal combustion engine;

The above mentioned minor or secondary impacts follow the main impactsbut without the use of separate firing devices. Betweenj'the sparkplugs, the cylindrical wall of the stator is formed with successivesmall pockets communicating with the space between the stator and rotor.The above mentioned compartments are defined in part by pistonsextending from the rotor and communicating with the wall of the stator.

Whil e'opposite pistons effect compression and power strokesrespectively, the intervening pistons effect suction and exhaust strokesrespectively, in a four piston rotor. The rotor may however have anyeven number; of pistons. When the compartment at one side of a givenpistoniis expanded after firing, the compartment at the opposite side ofthe piston is under compression. When the pistons pass the pocketscontaining compressed fuel,.the contents of these pockets is deliveredto the expanding chamber, and the charges inthese pockets aresuccessively fired as theyare emptied into the expanding chamber, duetothe high temperature of the exploded gas in the latter. The secondaryexplosions thus produced impart a substantially' continuous pressure onthe rotor, resulting in smoother operation, less vibratio'nand less wearon the machine.

-- The invention is'fully disclosed by wayof example in the followingdescription and in the accompanying drawings, in which [Figure-l isavertical transverse section of the device; Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryendview thereof; Fig. '3 is a vertical longitudinalsection;

Fig; 4 is a fragmentary section in a plane parallel to that of Figure 1iFig. 5 is "a detail longitudinal sectionof one of thev'alves,and M 1Fig. 6 is a transverse section of one of the valves.

Referenceto these views will now be made by use of like characterswhichare employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, the device includes a base 1having a cylindrical wall 2' formed integral therewith. The base alsohas lugs 3 whichare'suitably secured to a supporting member 4. r

The cylindrical wall'2 is a part of the stator of the' machine, which iscompleted by end plates 5 at the ends of the wall and forming acylindrical enclosure. The end plates 5 carry the bearings 6 in which isjournaled the shaft 7 of the machine; 'Between the end plates 5, theshaft carries a rotor'formedbya drum 8 having internal radial arms 9emanating from a-hublO which in turn is secured to the shaft by a key11. It will be obvious that the: druinis positioned prior to theassembly of one of the end plates 5.

' The wall 2 is formed with a series ofpockets 12'which communicate withthe space'13 between this wall-andthe drum 8. The pockets extendlongitudinally of the wall 2 and are closed at their ends as indicatedby the numeral 14 in Fig. 4. These pockets serve a purpose which willpresently'app'ear.

Formedon the wall 2 in peripherally spaced relation are sets ofintakejexhaust and firing meansl 'Each' suchset includes an intake valve15, anexhaust valvelfi, and a spark plug 1'7. Although five "such setsare illustrated in Figure 1, it will be understood that any number ofsuch openposition illustrated'in-Figs; 1 and 6. Over valves and in theslot is slidably mounted a sliding;

abutment 29 adapted to move inwardly to engage the drum 8 and to moveoutwardlyto permit passage of the pistons, by a mechanism presently bedescribed. I For the timed actuation of the sliding abutments, largecams 30 are journaled an the shaft 'L outwardly of the plates 5 asillustrated inlfigures 2 and 3. Each sliding abutment has securedthereto a yoke or carrier 31 equipped at its end with rollers 32 whichride in the grooves 33 of the respective cams. The groovesare formed toopen and close the sliding abutments atthe proper intervals: withrespect to the movement of the pistons. The speed of the cams, is stepped up'with relation to the speed of theshaft by means of a train ofgearing 34 including-a primemover 35 keyed to; the shaft and operatingthrough intermediate gears 36 to drive a'small gear 37 formed integralwith the As shown in Fig. 3, one set of such gearing provided for eachcam. I r

The valves are operated by the mechanism which is shown more clearly inFig. 4. For each set of gears there is provided. a pinion- 38 :jour-'naled on one of the plates 5 by meansof astub shaft 39. All of thesepinions mesh with. the drivingpinion 40 formed integral with theadjacent cam 30 as shown in Fig. 3; Each of. the pinions 38'is formedwith a cam 41 groove 42. 1 v

The ends of the sleeves 19 and valve plugs '21. are joined to links 43and 44 respectively.- ,Each.

having a cam such pair of links is joined to one end of a slide rod 45',the other end. of which is received in oneof the cam grooves 42 asindicated by the numeral 46 in Fig. 4. Each rod 45 is guided. in a pairof straps 47 secured to the adjacent end plate"5.

Obviously the earns 41 are constructed to operate the, valves at theproper intervals with. regard to the operation of the motor, and a.suitable timing mechanism is provided. for firing the spark plugs .17. j

In the operation of the device, it will be seen that a small space A isformed at the uppermost intake valve in Fig. 1. This space. is definedlaterally by the corresponding piston127' and sliding abutment 29 and isin communication with the corresponding sparkplug 1'1. The cams 41 areconstructed to close the. corresponding .in-. take valve at thisinstant, and-the: firingmechanism ,is timed to fire the, correspondingspark plug 17 at the same instant; The piston 27' will .1 be moved in aclockwise direction by the explm sion,- andthe gasin the space B attheadvance side of the piston, defined laterally bythe-piston and nextsliding abutment '29, will -be com.-

press'ed. The exhaust valveicommunicating' with j this space has beenopenfibutis nowobstructed by-the first mentioned pistony27' so that thegas trapped in the space B will be compressed and prepared for ignition'inthe mannerdescribed. The next space Cbetween the next gate and blade27" is expanding andrthe corresponding intake valve is open for theadmission of gas thereto by suction through the valve 24. The followingspace D, however, is diminishing, and the exhaust valve in communicationtherewith is open for exhaust purposes. The remaining valves are timedto open or close with respect to the condition of the compartmentscommunicating therewith, and it will also be understood that the. sparkplugs are fired when the motor is started.

In following the movement of the several blades it will be seen that theblade 2'7 on entering the chamber C, which has previously been vfilledwith gas by the admission stroke of the blade 2'7", commences acompression action towards then'ext following gate 29 in the chamberspace/A. The gas in advance of the blade 27" inflthe chamber D is thuscompressed and delivered by degrees from the pockets 12v to the chamberCwhere it is successively ignited in the manner described. The blade 27"is now in the chamber A where it is effecting exhaust between itsadvancing face and the next forward gate 29,, while effecting admissionat its rear face. By thus following the'action of each blade, it will beseenv that the blades 27' and-27" are always directly in advanceof'achamber undergoing ignition and. are always effecting a compressionagainst the next forward gate 29; while the blades 27 and 2'1" efiectadmission at the rear face and exhaust at the forward face.

' Referring again to the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen thatthe chambers A, B, C, and D' are respectively in the same condition asthe chambers A,. B, C and D. In other words, ignition occurring inchamber A causes compression in chamber B, while the blade 27 inducesadmission intochamber C and exhaust from chamber D. It will also be seenthat the gas undergoing ignitionin chamber A was previously drawn intochambers A and B by the preceding passage of the blade 27" therethrough,this blade. effecting admission at its rear face as alreadys'tated.

Referring again to the'explosion occurring in the space A, the functionof the pockets 12 will now be described. As the uppermost blade 27'moves in clockwise direction it successively un covers certain. of thepockets. In this manner the gas compressed in compartment B andcontained also-in the communicating pockets is transferred by degrees tothe expanding compartmentA as the pockets are successively passed by theuppermost blade 2'7. As thesepockets come into communication with thecompartment A, the gas therein is successively fired by coming intocontact with the hot exploded gas in the 'expanding'compartment A,setting up a number of minor explosions as a givenblade 27', 27", 2'7""or 27" passes from onecompartment to another. These successiveexplosions provide continuing impacts on the blade, so that theroto'r'is turned by an almost continuous force caused by explosionsoccurring with much greater frequency'than sparks firing. In this mannerthe rotor is imparted a smooth and steady propulsion which reduces theamount. of vibration and hence increases the life of the motor. Althougha specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that various alterations in the detailsof construction may be made without the said space into compartmentssaid compart-.

ments being between an abutment and a piston, said pistons carried bysaid rotor to vary the volume of said compartments, said pistons beingby pairs, one of said pistons continuously dividing said compartmentsinto explosion and compression chambers while the next said pistoncontinuously divides the next said compartment into admission andexhaust chambers, firing means exposed to said explosion chambers, andmeans geared to said rotor for moving said sliding abutments towards andfrom said rotor, and intake and exhaust valves communicating with saidintake and exhaust chambers, each such valve including a rotary sleeveand a plug journaled therein, links extending from said sleeves andplugs, a slide rod for each valve and connected to the links extendingfrom the sleeve and plug of such valve, and earns adapted to reciprocatesaid rods and keyed to said rotor.

RENE LACHAPELLE.

